Session 2: Making better use of recycled concrete demolition waste: Exploring new uses

Recorded:Tuesday 07 November 2023
Presented by:Elaine Toogood, Director of Architecture and Sustainable Design, The Concrete Centre

Reduce and reuse are priorities for good circular economy practice. There are a growing number of examples of new developments benefiting from the reuse of an existing concrete frame, but what is best practice when concrete is eventually demolished?

The supply chain for demolishing and recycling concrete is well established in the UK, but what is the best use of this secondary resource?

Recycled concrete is often used as a sub-base, but what other opportunities exist or are in development?

Research undertaken at the University of Cambridge has established that cement paste recovered from construction demolition waste can be used in the manufacture of a new cementitious material, Cambridge Electric Cement. Other potential uses include carbon capture use and storage and the manufacture of new concrete whether as recycled aggregate or recycled concrete paste as a cement replacement.

This joint event between Cambridge University and The Concrete Centre, brings together a broad community of representatives from industry to explore the opportunities, challenges and potential for alternative uses of concrete demolition waste.

It will include presentations on some of the new uses in development, their potential production and separation processes, as well as examples of live projects in progress.

Presentations were grouped into three sessions, this is the recording of session 2.

Programme Overview

Session 2 - Exploring new uses

Introduction and welcome

Elaine Toogood, Director of Architecture and Sustainable Design, The Concrete Centre
                     
Current and evolving standards for use of recycled aggregate in concrete
Mike will explain the current and evolving technical opportunities and limitations for use of crushed concrete and other recycled aggregate in BS 8500 for the manufacture of concrete.

Mike Wharton, Technical Director - Aggregates & Concrete Standards, MPA​
                     
Fast Carb - Enhanced aggregate for concrete by carbonation
This presentation will introduce a recent innovation to enhance the properties of crushed concrete aggregate by carbonation, for use in the manufacture of concrete.
                   
Jesús Subero, Head of R&D Department, Cement Manufacturing, Holcim Innovation Centre
                     
Raw material for cement manufacture
Lilia will describe the process for using concrete demolished material as alternative raw material in clinker production.
               
Lilia Caragacean, R&D Lead Engineer, Holcim Innovation Centre
                     
Q&A

Introduction to part 2 of the session​
          
Elaine Toogood, Director of Architecture and Sustainable Design, The Concrete Centre

Recycled concrete fines as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM)
Use of recycled building materials as an SCM in the new European cement standard (EN 197-6).
        
Dr Colum McCague, Technical Manager, MPA Cement

Mineralisation of CO2 in recycled concrete paste (RCP) - valorisation and circularity of building materials
Nina will illustrate Heidelberg Materials’ development of the use of recarbonated recycled concrete paste as cement constituent, describing the journey from lab development to industrial implementation.
     
Dr Nina Cardinal, National Technical Manager, Heidelberg Materials UK - Cement​

New low carbon cement as co-product of steel recycling
Cyrille will explain the principles of the innovative technology and process for creating Cambridge Electric Cement from separated concrete demolition waste using electric arc furnaces.
 
Cyrille Dunant, Principal Research Associate, Cambridge Electric Cement​

Q&A

About us

The Concrete Centre provides material, design and construction guidance. Our aim is to enable all those involved in the design, use and performance of concrete and masonry to realise the potential of these materials.

The Concrete Centre, part of the MPA

The Mineral Products Association is the trade association for the aggregates, asphalt, cement, concrete, dimension stone, lime, mortar and industrial sand industries.

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